THATTA: Former provincial minister and Senator Sassui Palijo has expressed grave concern over the acute shortage of water in Sindh, alleging that Punjab is illegally diverting more than 12,000 cusecs through the Taunsa-Panjnad and Chashma-Jhelum link canals while the people of Sindh struggle even for drinking water.

Speaking at a press conference at the Thatta Press Club, Ms Palijo said that while the Sindh Assembly had rejected any division of the province, the people of Sindh would defend its unity and territorial integrity “at all costs”, whatever the constitutional provisions.

She urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate notice of the statements of federal ministers, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who, she said, were repeatedly speaking against Sindh’s unity. Instead of addressing the key issues pending before the Council of Common Interests (CCI), she alleged, the defence minister was sowing division and hatred across the country.

She welcomed the stand taken by political parties, nationalist leaders, religious organisations and civil society against any administrative division or partition of Sindh.

Commenting on the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment, she warned that any move to plunder mineral resources or curtail the autonomy of the smaller provinces would meet fierce resistance on every forum.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2026